Closure for barrels and the like



seps. a, 1.924.

E. E. ARNOLD CLOSURE FOR BARRELS AND THE LIKE Filed June 14. 1923 I N v EN'T ma EDWARD E. ARNOLD. my

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

' oroson'n non Banners AND THE LIKE.

Application filed June 14, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. ARNOLD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coventry, in the county of Kent andState of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closures for Barrels and the like, of which the following is a specification. I p g his invention relates to an improved closure for-barrels and the like which is adapted to be applied to or removed from a barrel or like container readily and without varying the position of the ends of the staves.

The usual Wooden barrel as now constructed is made up ofa series of staves having'grooves formed'on their inner faces for'receivingthe heads, which results not only in weakening the staves at the point where the grooves are formed but also necessitatesthe loosening of the hoops and slight separation of the ends of the staves from each other in removing or inserting the head portion. Thisform of structure is particularly unfitted as a container for dr powdery material by reaso-n of the fact that in inserting the head it is necessary to loosen the hoops .and separate the staves which permits the powdery material to enter the interstices between the staves if the barrel is nearly filled, thus causing considerable'trouble in again drawing the ends of the staves to gether; Moreover, in the use of wooden barrels of the construction described it is practically impossible to pack the material in the'barrel so tightly as to entirely fill the same by reason of the difficulties in insci-ting the head and securing it in place. It is the purpose of the present invention to overcome the cliiiiculties above set forth by providing a metallic closure which can be placed in position or removed from the barrel without loosening the hoops or moving the ends of the staves, and which may be so secured to the barrel end that it will be firmly held in place Without the cutting away or otherwise weakening any portion of the staves. j

Referring to the accompanying draw- 1n 's:-

ig. 1 is a side elevational View, partially Serial No. 645,328.

in section, illustrating one end' of a. barrel having my improved closure secured thereto; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a slightly modified form of the invention, and Fig. 3 isa'perspective view of the closure illustrated in Fig. 52,. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith l designates a barrel which may be formed from a plurality of staves, or may be built up of sheets of veneer suitably secured together or formed in any other suitable manner of appropriate material. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings the barrel is. formed of staves 2 which are in all respects similar to'those now in general use except that the .usual grooves formed upon the inner faces thereof adjacent the ends are omitted. A plurality of hoops 3 of wire, wood or metal strips may be em% ployed for holding the staves securely in position relative toeach other. A hoop 40f wood o metal surrounds the staves adjacent to their-ends and may be I held thereon by friction but is preferably firmly secured thereto in any desired-manner as by bolts, nails, or other fastening means. The provision of the hoop lof; moderate thickness at the end of the staves forms with the lower outer surface of the barrel a circular recess or depression 5 located directly be.- neath the hoop 4t'and extending about the barrel which is of reduced size in comparison with the outer circumference of the hoop 4t and the lower enlarged portion of the barrel. The provision of the'r'ecess or depression 5 is accomplished in this manner without in any Way weakening the staves as by cutting grooves therein-. The closure 6 is of integral construction throughout and comprises a depressed central portion 7 fitting substantially closely withinthe open end of the barrel, and an'upwardly extend: ing annular groove 8 for the reception of the ends of the'staves and the hoop 4.

The depressed central portion 7 of the closure may bejprovided with one or more annularcorrugations 9 for the purpose of stiffening the closure, or if desired corrugations may be formedtherein radiating outwardly from a point adj acent the center thereof. In fact the depressed central portion of tia-l extent; than drawn taut and its ends securedtogeth l In any desired manner to prevent accidental removal of the closure.

It will be seen that the above construction not; only provides; a: form. of; closure which may be readily removed or replaced. with. a minimum; expediture of time and efiort and that without in any. way weakening the structur qbut, that wheuthe wire or cable 12 is secured in place the hoopAc isentirely. enclosed; and the barrel cannotbe opene without releasing the wire 12 the terminals of: which may besealed to prevent access to the contents of the barrel by any un-- authorized; person without the same being;

' indicatedbythe-breaking ofthe seal.

In the; modified form of, the invention illustrated; in, Fig. 2; and 3, the barrel 1 is shown as forniedaof staves, 2 in the usual manner whichmay be held together by. hoops 3 The staves 2 are surrounded by. av hoop l adjacent to their free ends asin the form shown in Fig. 1, th-ereby forming arecess-or depression?) immediately be low the hoop l whichlis; ofless-circumferen the outer surface of the hoop! a Theclosure 6 is provided with a depressed portion 7 fitting withinlthe open end; ofethe bar-relwhichihas corrugations 9 formedthereinas-in the structure shown in Fig 1. The outer; edge of the closure, 6 is bent downwardly to form: an annular groove 8 for the reception of the ends-of the staves and the hoop; In-the fornrofthe invent-ion; asshownin Fig. 2-,however, the downturned outer edge ofthe closure 6' has apluralityi of slots 14s cut therein and extending upwardly from the. edge thereof to a;point adjacent the base of the groove 8 whereby greater flexibility is-imparted to the edge sections 15 ofthe closure, and less force is required; to drawv them closely against-the: outer si-irface. of the'barrel and hoop 4 and into the; recess 5. Each of the edge sections 15 is; curved slightly at the point where it engages the recess ,vor'depression 5 asindicatedat 16 whereby it, readily springs into the recess or depression 5 when placed in position: on; the barrel, and fits closely against the lower edge of the hoop 4% to provide a depression for, the reception of the wire or-cable 12-which. isplaced therein and drawmtaut as.in- .the embodiment illusherewith, the opposite head of trated; in Elg 1.

In each form; Ofthe invention, as shown the barrel (not shown) ventional manner or a closure of any desired type such as, for example, illustrated may be employed.

Itvv will be understood that the forms of closure illustrated herewith difier from each other only in the provision of radial slots in the form shown in Figs; 2 and g'which impart somewhat greater flexibility to the edge portionof the closure whereby, when formed of exceptionally heavy material, it may be more readily drawn into the groove or depression 5 by the wire or cable 12 and thereby secured, against removal, In ade dition to the advantages attainedby reason of the readinessw'ith which'the closure. may be applied to or'removed from like container, its use permits, of the container: if desired. and by reason of, the portion 7 of the head being depressed the closure will not be readily puncturedlbyn the use of hooks in handlingthe container;

It isto be understood. thatby usingthe closure shown. and described herewithfthe barrel may be repeatedly refilled and the closure used repeatedly since the removal]. and reapplication of the closure may be formed in the con one of the forms abarrel on the sealing,

to the barrel may be effected repeatedly without injury a to the closure or, the barrel. The closure. may be made of; any suitable, metal, and may if desired be formed of galvanizedor non-rustable material, and maybe formed in any desired manner although the pus-.

ferred manner of form ng the same isiby stamping with the suitable dies from metal in sheet forlu,

\Vhatl claim ise -i.

1-. The combination ,With a barrelqprov'ided edge portion, extending over: the, depression in the outer, surfaceof, the. barrel, and means for drawing the edge portion of. the closure within, the depression to hold; the closure against removal.

2. with a circular depression upon, the outer surface thereof locatedadj acentto the open end of the barr l, a metallic closure having a depressed portionfitting Within, the openend of; thebarrel and-an. edge portion. extending over the depression in the, outer surface of the barrel, and means-for engagingthev edge portion of said closureand drawing'the same within the depression to hold the closure against removal.

3. The combinationwith, a barrel? having a hoop secured toits; outer surface adjacent to the open end thereof to "form; with the outer surface of said barrel a circularde pression extending therearound, a closure formed ofsheet metaladapted to cover the open end of the barrel and having an edge The combination with abarrelzprovi'ded portion extending over the depression in the open end of the barrel and provided With an outer surface of the barrel, and means for edge portion comprising a plurality of par drawing the edge portion of the closure tially separated sections formed to engage Within the depression to hold the closure the said depression, and means for holding against removal. 7 the said sections in the depression to prevent 25 4. The combination With a barrel provided removal of said closure. with a circular depression upon the outer 6. The combination With abarrel provided surface thereof extending therearound and With a circular depression upon the outer located adjacent to the open end of the barsurface thereof located adjacent to the open rel, an integral metallic closure covering the end of the barrel, a closure provided With a 30 open end of the barrel and having a circular depressed portion fitting Within the open depressed portion fitting Within the'said cirend of the barrel and having an edge porcular depression, and means for holding the tion comprising a plurality of partially sepsaid circular depressed portion Within the arated sectlons adapted to overlie said cirsaid circular depression to prevent removal cular depression, and means for drawing 35 of the closure. said sections into said depression and there 5. The combination With a barrel provided by holding the closure against removal.

with a circular depression upon the outer In testimony whereof I have aflixed my surface thereof located adjacent to the open signature. I

20 end of the barrel, a closure for covering the I EDWARD E. ARNOLD. 

